I think this illustrates Gordon Browns main problem very well.

[Helm]

You can get away with all kinds of stuff if you have some charisma, see Thatcher and Blair, even Bush who...well he was more interesting.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Really? Um, I don't know about you, but I don't vote on the basis of how cool somebody is. I don't know anybody who does. I personally think if Gordon Brown exploited his image as a serious, even dour character rather than continuously trying to be all smiles and youtube then it would do him a lot of good.

[The Dude]

Really? Um, I don't know about you, but I don't vote on the basis of how cool somebody is. I don't know anybody who does. I personally think if Gordon Brown exploited his image as a serious, even dour character rather than continuously trying to be all smiles and youtube then it would do him a lot of good.

What a load of bollocks. Charisma has everything to do with being a succesful leader. Nobody -consciously- votes for a leader's charisma, but it has everything to do with your perception of someone and how seriously you take him.

[Helm]

What a load of bollocks. Charisma has everything to do with being a succesful leader. Nobody -consciously- votes for a leader's charisma, but it has everything to do with your perception of someone and how seriously you take him.

That's how it should work in an ideal world but this isn't an ideal world. And charisma takes more than a forced smile on Youtube.

[The Dude]

Uhm, duh. It clearly does. I'm not arguing the charisma of a specific individual. I'm arguing that charisma is very important if a politician wants to be taken seriously. Even in this non-ideal world.

[Helm]

Being able to appeal to and convince the masses is a big part of what makes a good politician/leader, if you make a mistake you have a better chance of being able to deflect much of associated flak and fallout. Gordon Brown doesn't really have that particular talent due to his lack of charisma and so he's suffering all the more for it.

[removeduser_487563287433]

People care about money, not charisma.

[Fishy]

People care about money, not charisma.

If you have a normal conversation with somebody 80% of what you remember is the image somebody send out. Somebody sends out a positive image then negative words won't carry the same impact and vice versa.

So it's very important for a politican to come off looking good. Just look at the Kennedy Nixon debate for instance, first television debate for an American president ever. People who listened on the Radio considered Nixon the winner, people who saw it on TV considered Kennedy the winner.

With image alone you can't possibly become a great politician, you can't become one without it either however.

[Arnold Schwarzenegger]

People care about money, not charisma.

I have both, and I was elected twice. But none of those things are primary to me. The most important is inner strength. Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. If someone lacks inner strength, he shouldn't get involved in politics, voters don't like girlie boys, voters like strong and powerful leaders.

[Helm]

A PM doesn't need charisma, but it does help.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I thought that was pretty funny.

[Helm]

Take a look a Hitler, he may as well have been the Devil incarnate but he had the masses wrapped around his little finger and hanging on his every word.

[Каие]

Populism did that. Not Hitler's charisma. Hitler was largely a basket case. In fact Hitler marketed himself like Gordon Brown, serious, dour and no messing about. The Jews had to go.

[Helm]

Populism did that. Not Hitler's charisma. Hitler was largely a basket case. In fact Hitler marketed himself like Gordon Brown, serious, dour and no messing about. The Jews had to go.

Hitler would never have got very far had he the charisma of Gordon Brown, he would be standing their giving a dull speech about he he doesn't like the Jews while everyone stands around looking bored.

[Каие]

Oratory skills does not necessarily mean charisma, Blair had charisma, he wasn't a good speaker though. All those pauses, stutters, reading, motionless, stupid voice, dumb twang on his tongue.

[Markas]

Oratory skills does not necessarily mean charisma, Blair had charisma, he wasn't a good speaker though. All those pauses, stutters, reading, motionless, stupid voice, dumb twang on his tongue.

Better than Cameron though he sounds like a little boy. Every time he speaks I want to pinch his ruddy cheeks and give him an apple before setting him on his way.

[Каие]

Better than Cameron though he sounds like a little boy. Every time he speaks I want to pinch his ruddy cheeks and give him an apple before setting him on his way.

There are no modern good British orators. It is no longer the age of packed out football stadiums to listen to politicians. At least in the UK it isn't.

[Markas]

There are no modern good British orators. It is no longer the age of packed out football stadiums to listen to politicians. At least in the UK it isn't.

Not since Screaming Lord Sutch. He could inspire the masses and throw a decent cream pie.

[cristophe el perno]

Not since Screaming Lord Sutch. He could inspire the masses and throw a decent cream pie.

Amen to that. Hopefully in light of all this scandal in parliament, the Loonies can finally make the electoral breakthrough they so richly deserve.

[Helm]

Oratory skills does not necessarily mean charisma, Blair had charisma, he wasn't a good speaker though. All those pauses, stutters, reading, motionless, stupid voice, dumb twang on his tongue.

Only something 20% of communication consists of what you actually say though. Blair had the charisma so he could get away with talking drivel better than Brown can.